Skidmore College Top Questions

Both of these are partially true. Many jocks are Management and Business majors but that doesn't mean that they are all stupid. Many people at Skidmore do smoke pot but clearly not everyone. I'd say maybe half smoke pot but only one-sixth smoke constantly.

Yeah, there's a lot of those. But there's also a lot of everyone else. You'll run into just about anybody here, and there's definitely a place for everyone.

While many of us are liberal hippies, there is also a diverse population of jocks and conservative folks.

It's a fairly accurate representation of the student body. There are definitely a good amount of wealthy art student stoner hippies-but it's a stereotype, the campus has plenty of other students!

Pretty much. It's too cold to do anything unintoxicated

Yes and no. Lately Skidmore has been trying to kill its party reputation so campus police has gotten more hardcore about on campus parties and such. but no worries there are still a lot of parties to go to. and about the art kids- yeah there's a lot of them but there are plenty of other people too. skidmore has also been trying to let in more sports players to make the campus more diverse. the only problem is that now there is a rift between the "art kids" and the "bros"

We're not all total stoners! The freshman and sophomore classes are much more academically minded than the image everyone has of the crazy stoner hippie. We are pretty down with the environment-- I think that there are plans to make campus carbon-neutral by 2010 or something. We are definitely quirky, and we know how to have a good time, and still make sure that 10 page government paper gets done!

I think that in terms of the school's stereotypes, yes. In my three years here, I have felt that, aside from isolated incidents, the school is very accepting, relaxed, and encouragingly creative. Students feel pressure to compete academically according to their own standards; between students, I have not noticed much competitition. As for the students, most kids are left-leaning, and I would say that most students are in some way involved in the arts, and many students would identify as being socially/environmentally conscious.

Not really. There are a lot of pretentious, poser hippies yes. There are people who are all about the drugs and free love philosophy of hippies. but they don't have the social justice consciousness to back up their persona.

Yes, some people do fit into this stereotype, but not everyone does not fit into this mold. There a lot of different groups of people.

--no they are generalizations,

Yes and no. There are a lot of artsy kids, but there are also a good number of jocks. While these two groups don't really mix that often, there are a lot of overlaps. And yes, people do smoke a lot of weed, but there's always a lot of alcohol around as well.

Not entirely. Most people are "artsy" in the sense that they do some form of visual arts, performing arts, creative writing, singing, etc. But there are a lot of science and business majors so it is not lopsided. People are also not "rich." I am very middle middle-class and am getting a lot of financial aid to come to Skidmore. I have friends who're on full rides and friends who have no financial aid. And yes, a lot of people smoke. But if you don't, people are totally cool about it. It's not like prevalent at every social activity.

Most of these are true. Pot is huge here, and most students drink excessively. There are a lot of rich kids, too.

Yes, for the most part.

These stereotypes accurately describe maybe 1/4 of the student population. There is definitely a liberal bent here, but we are not all ignorant to the issues and many of us are well informed. There is also a lot of pot, but again not everyone smokes and not everyone who smokes is consumed by it.

There are students fitting the stereotype, but like any stereotype there are a lot that do not.

nope

only to the extent that any campus is populated by drunks, potheads, or rich kids. that is to say, a lot, but not more or less than any other place

Yes and no. See above.

In some cases they are but there are certainly deviations from the stereotypes

yeah pretty much

To some extent, yes, but there are normal people also.

We certainly do work hard and party harder. Students here are very focused on their work during the week, and are very in tune with classes/focused on academics, but on a Friday or Saturday night, the last place we'll be is in the Library--we just want to let loose after a week of serious work--and seriously party. Oh, and 4/20 on the green is a spectacle...it's great.

To a degree. I think that you can find those people at every liberal minded liberal arts college in the country. There are a ton of athletes, who bridge the gap between the artsy people and the preps. But even though you can try to classify everyone, there are definitely breaks in theses classifications. The jocks are smart and politically active, and the art and drama students play varsity sports and have exercise science minors.

There is a lot of pot on campus, but it is easily avoided if that is not your scene Skidmore is diverse and full of people from different backgrounds Not all skidmore girls are slutty by any means

Socialites exist everywhere, Skidmore is no different. But everyone most frequently overlooks Skidmore's large population of bizarre individuals who manage to juggle rigorous study and hard living. I've friends who have already made names for themselves in documentary film circles, ones who argue with me until seven in the morning about philosophy, and yet others who romp about canada every hunting season in their pick-up. For a supposedly apathetic campus the Library is packed every week-day and-night and there are fresh causes being paraded about every other day. Skidmore doesn't blow the horn as other schools might: athletic events are ignored and lectures are packed, frats are banned and "art battles" are marked on the calendar. Pretentious is too dismissive an adjective, rather Skidmore is a college with a different mindset.

I think so

for the most part, although there are a percentage that are not jewish

There are a lot of artsy kids, but also a huge variety of others. Pot smoking is relatively prevalent, but drinking moreso. The only sport that people really go out to watch is hockey.

Skidmore students do tend to dress to look the part of a hipster, but most of us really do care about each other, the community, and the world in general.

Stereotypes come from somewhere, but these are extremes, most people are a little trendy, like to smoke pot, like to go out, but when it's finals time work comes first. The dress code really is American Apparel.